Extension unit



March 15, 1927.y

W. G. REEVES EXTENSION UNIT Filed Jun 2o, 1925l fill A TTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 15,1927.

Unirse "S'TArss winivio'r G. iti-inves, or srooxsnineniviioiiiean.

' EXTENSION UNIT;

'Appiicatioii sied vJune 20, i925.

This invent-ion relates to devices for lengthening the chassis and driving .connections ofv an automotive vehicle to permit of the vehicle carrying a vlai-'ger body to accommodate a larger andyiiiorey bulky load, without the load verhanging t e Arear axle to the extent that the axle and other mechanism is subjected tol unusual stresses vand strains, other than for which they were designed.

One object of the invention is to design an extension unit which will reinforce and strengthen the lengthcned frame, and permit of larger and more bulky loads. n

Another object is to design an extension unit and cross member which will absorb the torque now transmitted to the motor and which will insure perfect and positive alignment of the drive shaft under all road conditioiis.

A further object is to design an extension unit and cross member in which the universal joint is mounted in the cross member and which will eliminate all misalignnient between the cross member and motor.

lVith the above and other objects in View, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, 'and vparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being fully understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or lsacrificing any of the advantages of the invent-ion.

In the draWing- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of an extended chassis with my improvement extension unit in place thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direct-ion of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the frame and cross member.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary part sectional view of the cross member showing the universal joint mounted therein.

Referring now particularly to the draw` ing in which I have shown the preferred einbodim'ent of my invention, the numeral 1 indicates a conventional Ford chassis having a frame Q, which is cut as shown at-3 and extended by means of a pair of extension members 4 fitted to each side and secured in place by means of bolts or the like.

1 serial No. 38,572.

Asshown in' thelv presentfilnsta'n'ce the device. is att-ached toa Ford chassis andan auxiliary transmission 'is interposed bctween the conventional Ford 1transmission `and 'the rear' axle,Y which provides'ffor a wider range of speed. Thisis however ir'n-l 'i' material insofar as this case'is coiicerhedA and is for explanatory purposes only as this application is directed to the extension unit and cross member proper.

The cross member proper comprises a casting 6 Yformed as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, having acentrally disposed opening 7 in which a conventional universal joint is mounted, spherical housings 8 and 9 respectively, are provided on opposite sides of said cross member, and are formed with flanges 10 and V11 having openings therein, and through which bolts 12 are extendedfor rigidly clamping said housing to said cross member, gaskets 13 being interposed between the" flanges and the member to make a dirt and dust proof connection there-at. A short section of ldrive shaft 14 is secured to the coupling 15 which is in turn bolted to the flange 16 cast integral with the spherical housing 8, the opposite end being secured to a coupling 1'? formed integral with the spherical housing 18 which is attached toV the auxiliary transmission 5.

Preferably cast block members 19 Vand 2() are secured to the side frame members by means of bolts 2,1.which extend through a boss 22 cast integral therewith, and these are formed similar to an-I-beam section except-V ing, that the flange on the top and bottoni extends outwardly and is provided with bolt receiving openings therein, a block of wood or similar material 3 being interposed between theframe member and the web of the block for providing a rigid connection.

The ends of the cross member (i arc `formed with spaced apart ears 24 which are provided with bolt receiving openings therein, and when the cross member is in assembled position, theseopenings are in direct vertical'alignment with the openings in the V,block members 19 and 20, a. bolt 25 being inserted therein, and a nut threaded thereon.

This unit eliminates all inisaligninent between the cross member and vehicle motor, and relieves the strain thereon, it also takes the thrust from the rear through the propeller shaft, and the torque which is usually transmitted to the motor through the auxiliary transmission.

Y' beam cross section fitted in said side memn bers and Y 10 .bosses adaptedtoengage the Web ofthe side side of said housing, gaskets interposed -Ytween the housing and the cross member.v

e obviousfthatl have perfectedl a very simple,

.bosses for securing said blocks to the. frame.

`blocks andv provided with a 'centrally disand ing Y 2. In an automobile, the combination with 20 ythe side members of a chassis, block mem bers of I-beam 'cross' section fitted in and seeured there-to, a cross member pivotally seure'd to said block member and provided fwitli a centrally Vdisposed opening, spherical shaped housingsv onV each side of thecross V'liienibeig' gaskets interposed between VsaidV housings and cross member to Vform a dust proof joint, ai universal joint mounted thereh in, and means for'rigidly elan'iping the said 30 housingk to the cross member. v

Inrtestimony whereof- I aiix my signature.

WILMOT ennemis.

From the foregoing description it will be la universal joint mounted in said houssubstantial and eiiective extension unit for Fords and similar vehicles. l l V`What I Claim lsf-f f l. In anV automobile, the con'ibinationpwith the side members of a VChassis, looks of I-` 25 provided with centrally disposed members, and bolts'extending through said a Cross member pivotall)7 secured toV said posed fopening, splierioal'liousings on veach 

